In January and February of this year, 69 and 2,059 tourists visited the College campus, respectively. The statistic for February is the highest number of visitors for February since 1996. As a result of large numbers, the College has increased the number of tours per time slot. This year, there were three tours per weekday time slot for the first time during President's Day week. Three years ago, the College increased the number of tours per weekend time slot from one to two.
Student tour guide Kathryn Fitzgerald '06 noticed firsthand the growing number of tourists. "There are ... many more people on the tours," she said. "I tend to have an average of 15 people per tour which is strange for a Wednesday because it is in the middle of the week."
Tour guide Ian Shin '06, however, said that he has not experienced an increase of people in his own tour groups. "In the four weeks that I've had to lead tours, I haven't actually had any visitors in three of them," said Shin. However, Shin also shared that there have been times when other tour guides had to handle large numbers. "We've had to come up with new tour routes at times when we have had, say, three tours going simultaneously because 100 people showed up for a tour with three guides."
Admission Fellow John Quigley '04 explained that increased Amherst publicity may have contributed to the growing interest in the College. According to Quigley, high school students are no longer hearing about Amherst from just U.S. News & World Report but also from PBS and the recent BusinessWeek article. "I think Amherst has had a more notable presence in the press in recent years," he said. The increased interest in Amherst can also be due to the College's efforts to reach more high schools. "We are trying to do more travel, hopefully reaching new areas and a wider range of students," said Quigley.
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tom Parker expressed enthusiasm for the record-high numbers. "It's terrific for Amherst," he said. "It is great that students are looking at us."
Shin echoed Parker's sentiments. "I'm glad there's an increased interest in Amherst," said Shin. "The tour guide program has always been very effective at meeting this interest."
A large number of visiting high school students are juniors, according to Parker and Quigley '04. "High school juniors are visiting more frequently and earlier in the academic year," said Quigley, who attributes the early start in the college process partly to the growing competition among college applicants. "The process has become more competitive with more students applying to college," he said. "Students and parents are beginning [the college process] earlier."
Parker also noted that college visits involved anxious and excited parents who are more interested in the College than the visiting students. "[College visits are] being driven by parents very clearly," said Parker.
Parker, however, advised against searching for colleges too early, stating that he would prefer the college process to be relaxing and pleasant for high school students. "Students and parents want to start the process earlier [but] I think it may be too early for kids," said Parker. "I'd rather see them thinking about high school [now] and thinking about college in late spring."